Optical fiber connector assembly with loop-back structure

• US 5,475,781 A
• Filed: 09/15/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products Incorporated (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: George Chou, Lei I. Shun, Lujia Hwang, Peter C. Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Peter C., Chou, George, Hwang, Lujia, Lei, I. Shun
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/306,755
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 385/76, 385/56, 385/55, 385/59, 385/60, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/89, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/76
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs

Abstract

An optical fiber connector assembly (70) includes a duplex clip (30) having two cavities (32) and two standard SC type connectors (10) side-by-side received therein wherein one connector (10) inter-mates with an optical emitter and the other connector inter-mates with an optical detector. A loop-back optical fiber (20) is generally positioned in the rear exterior of the duplex clip (30) with two distal ends of the fiber being respectively connected to the rear ends of the corresponding two connectors (10) inside such duplex clip. A back shield (40) fixedly encloses the duplex clip (30) from the back wherein such back shield (40) further includes a rearwardly projection hermetic portion whose shape conforms to the configuration of such loop-back fiber (20) for protection. Also, for protection, two caps (48) can be optionally respectively attached to the front portions of the connectors (10) extending forwardly from the clip (30).

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector assembly comprising:

two standard SC type connectors (10) juxtaposed with each other, each standard SC type connector (10) including a hollow outer housing (12) to receive therein an inner housing (14) which is adapted to be axially movable with regard to the outer housing (12);

a tubular housing (15) fixedly received within a rear portion of the inner housing (14) and a ceramic ferrule (16) coaxially moveable in the tubular housing (15) wherein a front end (17) of the ferrule protrudes out of the inner housing (14) and the outer housing (12);

a U-shaped bare optical fiber (20) connected between two ends of said two standard SC type connectors (10) to form a loop-back;

a duplex clip (30) being composed of two half covers (31) each including a hook section (32) and an indent section (34) for fastening with each other;

two cavities (36) being formed in the clip (30) for side by side receiving said two standard SC type connectors (10) therein wherein each cavity (36) conforms to the outer housing (12) of the standard SC type connector (10) so that said two standard SC type connectors (10) can be properly retained within the corresponding cavity (36) without axial or lateral movement;

a hollow back shield (40) protectively attached to the clip (30) from the back, said shield (40) including a rectangular portion (42) and a pyramid-like portion (44) whereby the rectangular portion (42) defines a rectangular cavity (43) for substantially fully enclosing the clip (30) and the pyramid-like portion (44) defines a pyramid-like cavity (45) for reception of said U-shaped bare optical fiber (20) therein.